Part 12 (1/2)
HIS DOMESTIC LIFE
If ish to becoreat man like Melanchthon, we must follow him from his public into his domestic life
Here his inner life is revealed to the eyes of an observer
We have already heard that, principally by Luther's encourage, on the 26th of Novee as hie, he was able to write of her to a friend, that she deserved a better husband than himself It was therefore to be expected that their union would be a happy one, and so it was They regarded each other with the greatest affection, and thought and felt in har upon the poor, it filled the other with joy[24] Frequent attacks of illness disturbed, or we should rather say proreatly troubled with the stone; and she suffered from the same disease, and also an affection of the liver It is therefore not to be wondered at, that the oft-repeated illness of his wife filled Melanchthon with the deepest compassion, and that he often freely expressed his sorrows in his letters She bore the cross to her own gain, and greatly longed to leave this vale of tears She endured her sufferings patiently, and found her principal comfort in the book of Psal to many souls Frequently did she utter the prayer in Psalrey-headed, O God, forsake me not” Camerarius, as inti testimony: ”She was a very pious woman, who loved her husband devotedly; an industrious and active mother of her family, liberal and benevolent towards all, and so careful for the interests of the poor, that she did not only lose sight of her ability and strength in the distribution of her charities, but even interceded for thereatest earnestness, and even impetuosity She led a spotless life, and was so anxious to cultivate a pious and honorable character, that she did not concern herself about expensive entertainments, or costly dress”
Their union was blessed by the birth of four children, two sons and two daughters; ANNA, PHILIP, GEORGE, and MAGDALEN His daughter Anna was born in 1524 Melanchthon was a great friend of children, and regarded his oith the deepest affection He was particularly devoted to his Anna At a certain time, this little child entered the roo It approached him, and with its little apron wiped away his tears He says of this: ”This proof of her love made a deep impression upon my heart” He did not dreahter should cause him to shed many bitter tears in future
At another ti ti hat she would say to herThe child replied, in its sihly pleased with this reply, and he often afterwards made use of it, when attacked by his enemies
Adami relates: ”Upon a certain time a Frenchman paid him a visit He found Philippus in the nursery, where he was rocking the cradle with one hand while he held a book in the other When he observed the surprise of his guest, Philip praised the duties of faratitude of children towards God in such a reatly instructed” He felt happy and at home in the nursery and in the family circle, which he called ”the little church” His son George, as born November 25th, 1527, died when he o years old He was very much attached to this child, which already displayed extraordinary intellectual gifts Great indeed, therefore, was his sorrohen the Lord took it away He speaks of it in several of his letters Luther even calls upon Jonas to pray for him that the Lord would coust: ”On last Sunday the Lord took away our Philip's son George You can easily iine how very difficult it is for us to console this tender-hearted and most sensitive man The death of his son has filled him with extraordinary sorrow, for he has not experienced this before You kno very important the preservation of his life and health is to us all; we all suffer and sorroith hiain wrote to Jonas: ”Philippus is still grieving We all sympathize with him, as a man of his worth richly deserves it Oh! that all those proud Timons were humbled by crosses like this, who are so proud of their oisdom, that they do not kno h he be, is exalted above many, yea, thousands like Jeroether unworthy to unloose the shoes' latchets of my Philippus”
The eldest son bore his father's name, and was born on the 13th of January, 1525 This boy suffered very much in his earlier years, so that his father entertained very little hope of raising hie of eighty years He did not possess the talents which so greatly distinguished his father
When very old, he wrote in an album: ”I have a desire to depart, and to be with Christ Philippus Melanchthon, August 9th, 1603”
GEORGE SABINUS was born at Brandenburg, April 23d, 1508 In his 15th year he had co to pursue his studies Melanchthon became acquainted with him, and loved him on account of his extraordinary talents He was particularly distinguished for his poetical talents
When Anna,[25] Melanchthon's favorite, was 16 years old, she was married to this Sabinus, with the consent of her parents This occurred in the year 1536 In the year 1538, the Elector Joachi called Sabinus to Frankfort on the Oder, as professor of polite literature
Being an exceedingly vain and ambitious ed for one more honorable Such an one seemed to be opened to hisberg
Melanchthon wrote to Ca of 1544: ”Sabinus intends to leave the academy (at Frankfort) because he finds it very difficult to satisfy the de-places where he will be able to rule, and from whence he may be introduced to courtly life This, you must know, is the substance of his plans Perhaps we hter farther away from my observation; but I endeavor to be calentle Anna, could not live happily in such a union She complained to her parents, for Sabinus was also a spendthrift in addition to all this By the recommendation of Camerarius, Sabinus was appointed the first Rector of the University of Konigsberg, on the 17th of August, 1544 Before re to this place, Anna and her children re Melanchthon's love towards his daughter and her children was now renewed and increased, especially as he saw the prospects that awaited thehter fills ard our tears
Could you but see how ahter has deported herself while at hoentle, very conciliatory, and of a prudent mind”
But she was not destined to re time; for, as we have already heard, the Lord removed her in March, 1547 This was the severest affliction that Melanchthon ever endured Fro: ”I send you a narrative of hter's death, which, whenever I read it, or even but think of it, so increases my parental sorrow, that I fear it will injure hter from my eyes, hen she was asked what she would like to say to her parents, replied: ”I think of several things, which fill uish” Camerarius says, that she appeared as a corpse to her father in a dreaht in which she died Melanchthon wrote to hiiving striking evidences of her love towards God, her husband, and children
It soon appeared that the love which Melanchthon had borne towards his departed daughter was now transferred to her children He therefore wrote to Sabinus: ”I wish our friendshi+p to be a lasting one, and am determined to cherish it faithfully I shall look upon your children as my own, and they are indeed my own I do not love them less than I loved their hter; and this love has not been extinguished by her death, but continues to be nourished by sorrow and ardent desire And as I kno much she loved her children, I believe that I must transfer her affections tohis journey to Wittenberg in the auturand-children were the greatest recreation of the grand-parents He would sometimes even speak of these children before his hearers
His youngest daughter Magdalen, born July 18th, 1533, was married to Doctor CASPAR PEUCER, when she was but 19 years of age After Melanchthon's death, Peucer beca, and physician in ordinary to the Elector of Saxony Their union was richly blessed with children He endured many persecutions afterwards, because he and soues secretly approved of the doctrines of Calvin, on which account they were called _Cryptocalvinists_ He was co this ti the bell for a funeral The rope broke in his hand, and awaking, he cried out: ”The rope is broken, and we are free” In the very same moment the door of his cell was opened, and he was liberated
Grief took such possession of his heart, that he was frequently observed weeping during public worshi+p in Zerbst, whither he had retired
His servant JOHN has likewise been very properly counted a member of Melanchthon's family This John was a Swabian, who for thirty-four years served hied all his household affairs, and trained and instructed his children Melanchthon entertained the highest respect for him, and frequently wrote to him, when absent on a journey Thisand heart When Veit Dietrich upon a certain occasion sent soles of the soul of the Son of God to Melanchthon, he replied that he had not read them yet, but intended to read them attentively, and then continues: ”My servant, who reads such books with great delight, praises them very much”
When he died, Melanchthon publicly announced his death, and spoke of hi manner We will repeat it: ”My servant John, born on the Neckar, lived with me four-and-thirty years He served God with true piety, and towardsHe was chaste, and a friend of chastity He devoted hisof the Scriptures and prayer, then to the training and instruction of hters, and then to household affairs He accompanied us in all our times of exile, in time of war and pestilence, and witnessed my life, labors, and afflictions And tie in him towards us” This is an honorable testimony for Melanchthon, even as Eliezer was an honor to Abraham
We must also notice Melanchthon's personal appearance, hisstriking in his appearance He was sood proportions; his chest was broad, and his neck so His face was very expressive, his forehead was high, and his blue eyes were full of beauty, intelligence, and gentleness He was very animated in conversation The a, e remember that he enjoyed but few healthy days in the whole period of his life He was frequently troubled with sleeplessness; at other times, he was severely afflicted with the stone; and besides this, he was also subject to affections of the bowels He had accustomed himself to very strict habits of life[26] He could be found in his study at 2 or 3 o'clock in thethe day, he read three or four lectures, attended to the conferences of the professors, and after that labored until supper-time After this, he retired about 9 o'clock
He would not open any letters in the evening, in order that his sleep ht not be disturbed by anxiety As his friends on the Rhine made hi a glass before supper
His habits were extreenerally took one simple meal a day, and never more than two As he was frequently invited to entertain, and other places, he could not at all times strictly adhere to this manner of life He was not fond of luxuries, but preferred soups, fish, vegetables, and eggs He was fond of conversing at table; and a man of his acquirements, who had conversed with princes, statesmen, and other celebrated persons, was never at a loss for a topic He was fond of cheerfulness and pleasant jests; but his fervent piety diffused a pleasing and blessed light over his whole walk and conversation He began every duty in the name of God, and as in his presence The word of the Apostle Paul, ”In hi,” was ever present to his , ”May our Lord God help us, and be merciful unto us!”
When he arose fro, he addressed the triune God in the following brief forhty, Eternal God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Creator of heaven and earth, and ether with thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, thy word and iive us our sins for thy Son's sake, who to thy wonderful counsels, and do thou guide and sanctify us by thy Holy Spirit, which was poured out upon the Apostles Grant that we hout all eternity!”